Canopy for horses



(No Model.)

J. F. PITTBNGER & Z. B. BRELSFORD.` GANOPY PoR HoRsEs.

- No; 554,792. Patented Peb. 18,1896.

7, terminating at the standards.

Y' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. PITTENGER AND ZELORA B. BRELSFORD, OF LADDONIA, MISSOURI.

- ,CAANoPY FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,792, dated February 18, 1896. Application md September 11,1894. serial No. 522,737. CNO model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that we, VJOHN F. PITTENGER and ZELORA B. BRELsFoRD, citizens of the United States, residing at Laddonia, in the county of Audrain and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Oanopy for Horses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in canopies for horses.

Heretofore canopies for horses have been mounted on poles, and have been adapted to fold, but they have only folded at the sides, the extreme length remaining the same in the folded and operative positions. This has been found disadvantageous, and often interferes with the harness, and is liable to obstruct the view of the driver.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the above objections, and to provide a canopy for horses, capable of folding at the ends as well as at the sides, and adapted to be compactly arranged on the standards or supports when not in use.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a canopy constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a pole or tongue, the fabric covering or top being removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in both the :ligures of the drawings.

1 1 designate a pair of vertical standards, provided at their lower ends with horizontal clip-plates 2 secured to the upper face of a pole 3, by means of clips 4, which enable the canopy to be readily and quickly applied to the pole of an ordinary vehicle.

The standards receive vertically-A adjustable sleeves 5, which are provided with clamping-screws 6, and which are connected at their upper ends by a longitudinally-disposed bar The upper ends of the sleeves are provided with attachment-plates S, and the terminals of the longitudinal bar7 are rounded and are covered by metal strips 9, on which are secured a curved series of plates 10, centrally secured to the longitudinal bar and having their terminals bent outward to form flanges 11, and the flanges of the adjacent plates are arranged parallel and have pivoted between them the inner ends of folding ribs 12. The ribs 12 eX- tend out radially from the ends of the bar 7, and are arranged in semiannular series, those ribs at the ends of the series being disposed at right angles to the bars 7, and extending outward therefrom at opposite sides thereof, and the outer terminals of the ribs are connected by a marginal cord 13 or the like, to which is secured a fabric covering 14.

The ribs are provided intermediate of their ends with clips 15, having flanges or ears between which are pivoted the upper ends of inclined braces 16, and the lower ends of the latter are pivoted between outward-extending Iianges 17 of a curved series of plates 18, secured to collars 19; and the collars are slidingly arranged on the sleeves and are adapted to be moved downward on the sleeves to fold the canopy. The collars are maintained in an elevated position to hold the canopy eX- tended by means of spring-catches 20.

The canopy consists of a central rectangular portion, and substantially semicircular end portions located in front and in rear of the central portion. The central portion folds downward at opposite sides of the standards and the semicircular portions fold downward and inward against the standards. This operates to shorten the canopy, substantially, two-thirds its length, one-third being taken off each end in folding, and the canopy may be constructed sufciently large to shade the draft-animal fully, and when folded it will not obstruct the view of the driver or interfere with his manipulation of the reins.

It will be seen that the sleeves are adapted to be raised and lowered on the standards to arrange the canopy at any desired elevation, and that the projecting ends of the canopy, together with the sides, may be compactly folded against the sleeves to avoid interfering with the harness.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

IOO

A canopy for horses, comprising a pair of standards, designed to be mounted on a pole, a short longitudinal bar Connecting the upper ends of the standards, and supported by the saine, and seiniannular series of ribs located at each end of the longitudinal bar and hinged to the saine, the ribs at the ends of the series being disposed at right angles to the longitudinal bar and extending outward therefrom at opposite sides thereof, the fabric top or covering supported bythe rib and consisting of a central rectangular portion, and substantially semicircular end portions, the central portion being adapted to swing downward at opposite sides of the standards and the end portions being adapted to fold inward against the standards, whereby the length ol the canopy is shortened at the front and rear thereof, and means for operating the ribs to raise and lower the top or covering, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN F. PITTENGER. ZELORA B. BRELSFORD.

\\/'it11esses:

ED. C. CROW, Josnrn TAPLEY. 

